Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“I’m Vienna.” She thought it best to introduce herself. “I’m a surgical nurse and thought in case you needed anything, I could assist you.”
She glanced at his companion. He hadn’t approached the bed or patient. He walked around it, but kept his distance. She could see that he had noted Rainier’s hand under the pillow and he had assessed her.
“Do you have any weapons on you?” Gage asked her abruptly.
“No.”
“You aren’t needed. I can assist him if he needs help,” Gage said.
“There’s no need to be rude to her,” Rainier said very, very softly. “She stays. You talk to her like that again and you’re the one who leaves the room.”
“Briac doesn’t have to help you,” Gage said.
Briac glanced at what clearly was his personal protector. “Leave it alone. We’re on the same side, remember? Vienna, would you cut away the bandage, please?”
She took the scissors and did as the doctor asked, ignoring the man pacing behind her. She decided everyone in their business had to be a little paranoid.
“Have you known Raine long?” Briac asked.
“Several years. The six of us live in a small town, and all of us like the same things. Well, Stella lives about an hour from us, but essentially, we all live close. We like climbing, hiking, skiing, dancing, that sort of thing.”
“Stella is the one getting married,” Briac qualified.
“Yes. Did Raine tell you that?”
“When she reported there was an accident, she said she was here in Vegas for a bridal shower. I believe it was mentioned that Stella was the bride.” Briac studied the wound. “Who initially cleaned this?”
“I believe Rainier did. He’s a doctor.”
Briac straightened. “We do make the worst patients.”
“I couldn’t go to a hospital,” Rainier explained without lifting his head. “Did I leave something behind?”
“I believe so.”
Rainier swore under his breath. “I was afraid of that.”
Vienna had been just as afraid. “We’ll have a little chat about that later, Rainier, considering all the crap you gave me about calling a doctor.”
“They always bring muscle along,” he answered, unrepentant.
She couldn’t exactly fault him on his tone. It was as flat and expressionless as ever, yet somehow, even lying on his belly with his pants around his ankles, when he should have felt vulnerable, Rainier managed to give off the feeling of being superior. Of being in complete control. She didn’t see how he could be so sure of himself, not with Gage prowling around the room, making her feel nervous in spite of her determination not to notice him.
“I don’t understand why, when you’re on the same side, you have to act like enemies,” Vienna said, automatically laying out the doctor’s instruments on the small tray he had in the very large medical bag he’d brought with him. “It’s just plain ludicrous.”
Briac laughed. “I agree wholeheartedly. We’ll just ignore them. I’m going to numb this, Rainier,” he added. “It will take a few shots to get the entire site numb, and it’s going to be very uncomfortable. Don’t shoot me.”
“Vienna can stand between you,” Gage suggested helpfully. “It would be easier for her to hand the doc instruments.”
“Vienna can stay right where she is,” Rainier said. “She has the tray of instruments and can hand them across my body.”
Vienna sighed. “If you two keep it up, I’m going to have the doctor give you a shot of something to knock you out, Rainier, and I’ll have you leave the room, Mr. Barrington.”
“I’m not allowed to leave Doc.” There was amusement for the first time in Gage’s voice. “I’m not opposed to you having Briac knock out his patient. It would save me a lot of work. I could sit down and relax for a change.”
The admission told Vienna that Gage had no idea Zale was in the room looking out for Rainier.
“He’s lazy,” Briac said.
Vienna prepared four long needles where Rainier could see what she was doing to assure him he would be getting the proper dosage and it would be numbing the site, not putting him out as she had threatened. Deliberately she showed him the vials she drew from and where she laid each syringe on the tray for the doctor to use. Rainier’s gaze flicked up to her once and he barely nodded, an almost imperceptible acknowledgment, but she felt connected to him for the first time since they’d left the hotel.
Briac picked up the first syringe in his gloved hand. “I’m injecting now, Rainier.”
Rainier didn’t respond. He made no sound as, one after another, Briac injected the syringes full of numbing agent into the wound. Little beads of sweat formed on Rainier’s forehead, but he wiped them on the pillowcase with a small turn of his head and then settled again.
“Is Raine seeing anyone?” Briac asked casually.
Rainier frowned. “What the hell kind of question is that?”
“A personal one,” Briac responded. “I understand she enjoys hiking. I do as well. I have some time off coming and always wanted to see Yosemite. I thought . . .”